If you are concerned about your ability to do physical activity as you age, don’t give up on exercise just yet! It is important to stay healthy both mentally and physically. As we age, our muscle mass decreases, and our ability to do strenuous activities diminishes. One way to maintain strength as we age is through strength training.
We are all aware that our bodies change as we age. Robby Watson, a trainer at NBS Fitness, discusses the advantages of strength training as we get older. We lose muscle mass and bone density, making us more prone to injury, bone fractures, and simply being unable to live functionally. This means that it is hard to do everyday tasks- getting up off the couch, walking up the stairs, picking the kids up, or taking the dog for a walk.
Robby wants his clients to be able to perform these functional tasks with ease. He works with a lot of strength athletes because he truly believes that by increasing our muscle mass and bone density, we can accomplish those everyday tasks while being less prone to injury. We’re going to have the muscle mass to be able to get up off the couch without struggle, to be able to pick up the dog without hurting our back, or go on an adventure without getting injuries.
Basically, we’re going to be able to do things that society says we can’t do when we get old; that mindset that once you’re old, you’re just tired, and just sit around all day. That doesn’t have to be the case, and Robby definitely doesn’t want that to be the case for all of his clients.
So through strength training, we can have the musculature to be able to support our lifestyle, the one we all want to have.